"It's so heartbreaking, I've seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can't get out.

"The guys are doing an incredible job to try and get people out that building, but it's truly awful."

Smoke could be seen for miles (Image: London Fire Brigade)

Celeste Thomas, who lives near the scene, said: "Police [are] moving everyone back. I literally live across the road. [There are] hundreds of people outside. Residents and families trying to find each other.

"Police have moved everyone back out of direct sight but [I] can hear cracking and debris falling."